One of the things I like most about the festive season is the generous and loving attitude that it brings. Everyone seems to come together and there is a real feeling of community, an atmosphere of both kindness and compassion.

This year lets make one of our new years resolutions to continue in this spirit, looking outward and finding ways to be somebody else’s light when their path is hidden in darkness.

For some of you this may be as simple as holding the door open for an elderly woman or letting other cars in when you are driving to work. Whatever this looks like for you, I would encourage you to pursue kindness and compassion with vigour all year round. It is guaranteed to make you happy and your life infinitely more meaningful and rewarding.

If you would like to begin this work now, please read on for an opportunity to support a worthwhile cause that does just this…

International Justice Mission

Photo Courtesy of Shutterwork

International Justice Mission is a global organization that protects the poor from violence throughout the developing world. IJM partners with local authorities to rescue victims of violence, bring criminals to justice, restore survivors, and strengthen justice systems. In nearly 20 communities throughout Africa, Latin America, South Asia and Southeast Asia, IJM combats slavery, sex trafficking, sexual violence, police brutality, property grabbing and other forms of violence.

The homes the victims of abuse are placed in are usually equipped to provide the appropriate counseling, health care, education, training and social development to set their clients on the road to healing from the horrific abuse they survived. These facilities are located in a culture that is familiar to the children, where they are among others who are also healing from similar situations of abuse.

IJM provides services and follow up to minors rescued from sexual exploitation from the time they are rescued until they become majors and have completed their aftercare program to ensure that they have been fully restored and can be reintegrated into their communities and can live safe and sustainable lives on their own.

To help support this worthwhile cause please donate whatever little you can by clicking on the link below:

Take today to think of the things others have done for you and that you are grateful for. Choose the thing you are most grateful for, it needn’t be something that someone has recently done for you and send them a thank you note. This could be hand written, emailed or even text. Tell them what it meant to you and let them know you appreciated their kindness.

We all have them. Great friends who – for whatever reason – we don’t often speak to. Friends with busy schedules, kids, hectic careers or even those living far away. Use today as an opportunity to call a friend you love but don’t speak to often and let them know you’re thinking about them.

Take a look around on your journey into work today and give up your seat on public transport, offer to give someone a lift or just simply offer help – you could even tell them about your kindness challenge!

Buy your favorite book or a book you know your friend will like and give it to your friend with a card saying what they mean to you as a surprise (you could do this on Amazon and use the gift wrapping option to write the note).

Last week we explored how to foster greater kindness within. This week we examine how we can make kindness work with our lifestyles.

Letting kindness work for you

When I worked in central London one of the main things I did was to talk to homeless people on the way back from work. I used to give them details of a local shelter where they could get a free lunch, shower and even some clothes. If I had any money I also used to buy them food so they wouldn’t go hungry. Most of all I listened to their problems, offered prayer support and treated them with the respect so many people didn’t afford them. Within a month of speaking to them I felt so much happier, I really felt as if I were making a difference and giving them hope for a better future.

When I changed job and moved into the suburbs there were no homeless people on my way to and from work so I began helping my friends make over their resumes and started giving money to causes I really cared about, like mental health and anti-trafficking charities.

One of the great things about kindness is that it can easily adapt to, and fit in with, your lifestyle. It’s flexible and there are endless ways to be kind that can fit in with your daily routine. You may not have homeless people you encounter in your day-to-day living but you can always give money to charity or give up your seat on the bus to an elderly man.

Take today to think about family, what you value about them, what they like, their interests and hobbies. Buy them something thoughtful and present it to them with a note about how much you value them or simply sign it thinking of you.